The journal ‘Ecology and Society’ has published recent findings by researchers from The University of Western Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management that will help the agricultural industry develop sustainable land management strategies.

Leading the research was Dr Neil Pettit who believes that the speed of environmental change is perhaps the greatest challenge for natural resource management.

“Despite the fall in rainfall and increasing temperatures there are opportunities to expand aquaculture and transform agricultural systems that are resilient to drier autumns and winters,” he said.

A team of 16 researchers from CENRM contributed to the findings that highlighted practices such as carbon-offset plantings and improving the network of national parks and nature reserves that could help conserve, restore and sustainably manage the natural resources in southwestern Australia.

“A central management dilemma is whether restoration/preservation efforts should have a commercial or biodiversity focus, and how they could be integrated. Although the grand challenge is conserving, protecting, restoring, and managing for a future environment, one that balances economic, social, and environmental values, the ultimate goal is to establish a regional culture that values the unique regional environment and balances the utilization of natural resources against protecting remaining natural ecosystems,” said Dr Pettit.

A copy of the research paper can be found here: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol20/iss3/art10/

Media references

Dr Paul Close(Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management) (+61 8) 9842 0833

(UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783